Upcoming Special Events Announced for 2015

111Black History Month: February 2015

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander will be the focus of a community-wide conversation on February 2, 2015, the first event in the seminary’s observance of Black History Month.

The event will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a 30-minute presentation by Asante Todd, Instructor in Christian Ethics at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Asante, himself African-American, will introduce the book and its topic and participate in a question and answer period. The discussion will then move to table groups where students, faculty, staff, board members, and others from the community can share thoughts, stories, insights, and questions arising from the book and the presentation.

Black History Month events will conclude with a service of Holy Eucharist featuring the Huston-Tillotson Gospel Choir on February 26, at 5:30 p.m.

J. Pittman McGehee, former dean of Christ Church Cathedral who is currently a diplomate Jungian analyst, lecturer, educator, published poet and essayist will present the Payne Lecture on Thursday, February 12, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.

Titled “Weaving a 21st Century World View,” Dr. McGehee’s lecture will take two stories, Christmas and Easter and two sacraments, Baptism and Eucharist and weave a tapestry of resources for a healthy and wholesome world view.

This annual event honors the Rt. Rev. Claude E. Payne, former chair of the seminary’s board of trustees and bishop of the Diocese of Texas retired.

Central Texas Colloquium on Religion Research Conference: February 21, 2015

Central Texas Colloquium on Religion (CTCR) is an initiative to build stronger connections between the wealth of academic professionals and students of religion in Central Texas. The objective of the Research Conference is to provide an opportunity to present original research and receive critical feedback within a creative and academic atmosphere. Graduate students and professors from universities, colleges, and seminaries in Central Texas organize this conference, seeking to foster intellectual dialogue among scholars of religion within our area. The Conference will be held at Seminary of the Southwest.

Southwest Showdown Barbeque: March 7, 2015

Southwest Showdown is a student-organized barbeque competition to benefit Episcopal Relief & Development and local relief and development efforts. More information at http://www.southwestshowdown.com

Harvey Lecture: March 23, 2015

The 2015 Harvey lecturer will be the Rt. Rev. James Tengatenga, PhD, former bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Southern Malawi who is currently distinguished visiting professor of global Anglicanism at the School of Theology, University of the South. Bishop Tengatenga will speak on Monday, March 23, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. The Harvey Lecture, which honors the memory of former Dean Hudnall Harvey, is hosted annually by the seminarians. The Harvey Lecture is made possible by the Thomas H. Harvey Memorial Fund.

Mariann Edgar Budde, ninth bishop of the Diocese of Washington will preach for the seminary’s commencement at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Austin on Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. Budde served as rector of St. John’s, Minneapolis for 18 years before being elected bishop. She is the first woman to serve as diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Washington.

Southwest at General Convention: June 23 – July 3, 2015

Seminary of the Southwest will host an exhibit during General Convention 2015 in Salt Lake City, Utah and a reception for alumni and friends of the seminary on June 30 at the Salt Lake City Marriott City Center.

Nuevos Horizontes Conference: August 10 – 12, 2015

This Conference is designed for clergy and lay leaders facing fast-paced changes taking place in Latino/Hispanic ministry, including those seeking competency in a re-energized Latino ministry that now must include the multiple generations of American born Latinos. Keynote speakers will be the Rev. Elizabeth Tamez, founder and Executive Director of Nueva Generación 3 and consultant on developing young Latino church leaders and Dr. Ruben Saenz, Director of Connectional Ministries, Methodist Southwest Conference

Matriculation: August 30, 2015

The seminary community officially welcomes new students, and the recipient of the Charles Cook Award for Servant Leadership is honored at Evensong in Christ Chapel on Sunday, August 30.

Hispanic Heritage Month: September 15 – October 15, 2015

Activities will be planned throughout the month. Details will be forthcoming.

Blandy Lecture: September 29-30, 2015

The Rt. Rev. W. Nicholas Knisely, Bishop of Rhode Island, will deliver the 2015 Blandy Lectures. The Blandy Lectures are made possible by the Blandy Lecture Endowment Funds.

John Hines Day: October 8, 2015

Seminary of the Southwest’s annual John Hines Day celebration includes Holy Eucharist in Christ Chapel where we install new members of the Board of Trustees, welcome Hines family members and friends and honor members of the John Hines Legacy Society. A celebratory luncheon for everyone follows. Details will be forthcoming.

All events, except Commencement are held on the seminary campus, 501 E. 32nd Street, Austin, Texas. Details will be available on this website or by calling 512.472.4133.